Resonating tethered tubular members

ABSTRACT

Toy, including two cylindrical tubular sections, connected to each other by means of a string, which may emanate sounds and create particular optical and chromatic effects.

I Umted States Patent [1 1 [111. 3,828,468

Palumbo [4 1 Aug. 13, 1974 1 RESONATING TETHERED TUBULAR 3,039,228 6/1962 Mazzadra 46/47 M S 7 3,110,493 11/1963 Thompson 46/47 X [76] Inventor: riT-fimoiafimio, manawia Faenza 10, Italy Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind V [22] Ffled' 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker j [21} Appl. No.: 340,007 r [30] w Foreign Applicifion Priority Data Jan. 31, 1973 Italy ..20567 ABSTRACT US. Cl. C Toy including two cylindrical tubular ections on- [5 nected to each other means of a tring may [58] Fleld of Search 46/47, 191, 190; 273/58 C, emanate sounds and create particular optical and 273/ 95 A chromatic effects.

[561 References Cited 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,982,888 12/1934 Tsukamoto 46/191 sual effects due to the optical and chromatic effects which are produced during its use.

The toy according to the present invention has two cylindrical tubular sections of suitable diameter and length.

A first one of these tubular sections is connected by means of a string to a point on the circumference of the second tubular section midway between the ends of the same, so that the latter can be vertically suspended.

By rotating the aforementioned first tubular section and imparting to it at the same time a convenient oscillatory movement, it is possible to cause the ends of the string-sustained second section to strike in successively and rhythmically against the first section.

It should be stressed here that both of the tubular sections are preferably so dimensioned as to enter into resonance upon occurance of the individual percussive contacts, with a view to emitting a sequence of pleasant sounds.

Said sections, particularly the one subjected to induced oscillations, may be provided with some coloured strips, so as to produce a pleasant chromatic effect during their movement.

These and still further characteristic features of a functional and structural nature of the toy according to the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the figures on the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows in a perspective view a pair of tubular sections connected to each other by meansof a string to each other;

FIG. 2 shows in fragmentary section a device for anchoring the string to the tubes; and

FIG. 3 illustrates diagrammatically the performance principle of the present invention.

Referring now particularly to the various figures of the accompanying drawing, the instant toy will be seen to consist preferably of two tubular, preferably cylindrically shaped members 1 and 2, one of which is provided with a handgrip 3.

In the wall of the member 1 having the handgrip 3, there is drilled in longitudinally position off-center a small-sized hole. A similar hole is drilled in the wall of member 2, but this one is longitudinally centered.

The members 1 and 2 are connected by means of a string 4, which engages via end knots 5 in two anchoring members 6 and 6, each provided with a throughhole '7.

Said anchoring members 6 and 6 each have a suitable taper with a view to facilitating their insertion into the aforementioned holes in the tubular members 1 and 2. Said anchoring members 6 and 6' are further provided with an undersquare 8 by means of which they are clamped to the walls'of the two tubes members 1 and 2 Functionally, the member 2, depending from the member 1 as the same is grasped and maintained in horizontal position, is positioned so as to extend transversely of the axis of the member 1 itself.

The ends of the member 2 will thus rhythmically strike against the wall of the member 1 when the latter is appropriately moved thereby approximately taking at the end of each complete evolution the subsequent positions 2 and 2 of FIG. 3 and thus causing a regular sound sequence.

In order to obtain pleasant sounds, the length, the diameter and the configuration as well as the wall thickness of both members 1 and 2 are suitably correlated so as to practically serve as resonance tubes for the individual percussions.

The same members may further have longitudinal or transversal strips or suitably coloured decorations to produce, when moving, particular chromatic effects.

Finally, it should be noted that the members 1 and 2 are preferably made from plastic material or another materials adapted to strengthen their acoustic characteristics.

From the foregoing and from perusal of the various figures in, the accompanying drawing, one may easily see the great functionality and the practical application of the toy according to the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy, comprising a first open ended tubular member having two spaced end portions; a handgrip on one of said end portions; a second open ended tubular member having spaced axial ends; an elongated flexible suspending means fixed to said first tubular member at a location closer to the other one of said end portions than to said one end portion, and to said second tubular member at a location midway between the ends thereof so that each respective end is spaced a predetermined distance from said location, the length of said flexible suspending means being less than said distance so that when said second tubular member extends transversely.

to said first tubular member, opposite terminal portions of said second tubular member will alternately hit against opposite lateral sides of said first tubular member in response to alternately lateral movement of the latter in mutually opposite directions.

2. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible means comprises a string.

3. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular members are tubes of synthetic plastic material.

4. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular members have respective circumferential walls, and wherein each of said walls has an opening at the respective location, said suspending means having end portions extending through and secured in said openings.

5. A toy as defined in claim 4; and further comprising an anchoring member received in each of said openings, said anchoring member having a tapered body provided with an undercut groove in which a marginal wall portion bounding'the respective opening is received, and with a through-hole through which the respective end portion of said suspending means extends, said end portion having at the inner side of the respective tubular member a knot to prevent it from being pulled out of said through-hole.

6. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein the external surfaces of said tubular elements are provided with alternating stripes of different colors producing visual effects when said tubular members are moved.

7. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein the lengths of said tubular members are so selected that the sound generated upon impact of the respective terminal portion against the respective lateral portion is amplified due to resonance in said tubular elements. 

1. A toy, comprising a first open ended tubular member having two spaced end portions; a handgrip on one of said end portions; a second open ended tubular member having spaced axial ends; an elongated flexible suspending means fixed to said first tubular member at a location closer to the other one of said end portions than to said one end portion, and to said second tubular member at a location midway between the ends thereof so that each respective end is spaced a predetermined distance from said location, the length of said flexible suspending means being less than said distance so that when said second tubular member extends transversely to said first tubular member, opposite terminal portions of said second tubular member will alternately hit against opposite lateral sides of said first tubular member in response to alternately lateral movement of the latter in mutually opposite directions.
 2. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible means comprises a string.
 3. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular members are tubes of synthetic plastic material.
 4. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular members have respective circumferential walls, and wherein each of said walls has an opening at the respective location, said suspending means having end portions extending through and secured in said openings.
 5. A toy as defined in claim 4; and further comprising an anchoring member received in each of said openings, said anchoring member having a tapered body provided with an undercut groove in which a marginal wall portion bounding the respective opening is received, and with a through-hole through which the respective end portion of said suspending means extends, said end portion having at the inner side of the respective tubular member a knot to prevent it from being pulled out of said through-hole.
 6. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein the external surfaces of said tubular elements are provided with alternating stripes of different colors producing visual effects when said tubular members are moved.
 7. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein the lengths of said tubular members are so selected that the sound generated upon impact of the respective terminal portion against the respective lateral portion is amplified due to resonance in said tubular elements. 